India "February 14 is Cow Hugging Day"... Valentine's Day Boycott Movement

Deepening Cow Worship Since Prime Minister Modi's Administration
Concerns Over Intensifying Hindu Nationalism..."Violence Against Other Religions"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Indian Animal Welfare Board and the government have announced plans to designate February 14, Valentine's Day, as 'Cow Hug Day,' sparking controversy both inside and outside India. There are concerns that Hindu nationalism, which has intensified since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office, will become even more rampant.

According to CNN on the 13th (local time), on the 8th, the Indian Animal Welfare Board proposed to the government that February 14 be newly designated as Cow Hug Day instead of Valentine's Day. In a statement, the Animal Welfare Board emphasized, "Hugging cows will enrich emotions and promote happiness," and added, "We must prevent traditional culture from disappearing due to Western civilization. Cows are the foundation of Indian culture and the rural economy." The board has been operating as a statutory advisory body to the Indian government since 1962.

[Image source=Getty Images]

Cynical public opinion dominates both inside and outside India. Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of the fact-checking media Alt News, posted on his Twitter, sarcastically saying, "When I first heard the news about 'Cow Hug Day,' I thought it was 'fake news.'"

Political analyst Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay also condemned the Animal Welfare Board's proposal as a completely crazy message, pointing out, "Now the government is conducting campaigns that were previously done by political and religious groups." Indian media outlets have also published satirical cartoons one after another, strengthening the opposition.

Some express concerns that Hindu nationalism, which has deepened since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office, will be further strengthened. Recently, reports have emerged of violence in areas of other religions such as Islam and Buddhism, mainly by hardline Hindu nationalists in India. Groups known as the so-called 'Cow Vigilante' have attacked and even killed those involved in processing and distributing beef, claiming to prevent cow slaughter.

Meanwhile, cows are known to be sacred animals in Indian Hinduism. Medicines and soaps made from cow dung and urine are also sold. Hindus believe that anything derived from cows, which are considered mother-like beings, possesses special efficacy. In 2020, the National Cow Commission, a government-related agency, even launched a mobile phone radiation-blocking chip made from cow dung.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a belief spread that applying cow dung to the body could overcome COVID-19, which led to many people becoming infected with bacteria, worsening their conditions or even dying.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.